Lobbying Federal Politicians in Canberra

Joy Connor and Marie Sellstrom, President of Rural Australians for Refugees, spent 2 days in Canberra on 22 and 23 October, meeting with politicians. They met with Russell Broadbent, sent Marise Payne a gift of Blue Mountains honey and a copy of Behrouz Boochani’s book and met with Julie Bishop. The meetings were facilitated by local member Susan Templeman.

Julie Bishop said that refugee advocates needed to lobby for more involvement by Australia in regional intercountry dialogue such as the ‘Bali Process’, if there is to be any kind of solution to forced migration. The Bali Process is the key diplomatic forum in which Australia and forty-three other countries in the region discuss the challenges posed by forced migration from countries in the region and beyond.